Converting Industry News
- Published: February 29, 2004, By Edited by Deborah Donberg, Associate Managing Editor
Covering the Full Spectrum of Industry News, Events & Activities
Titan Slitters Do Heavy-Duty Work at FLEXcon
Valmet Converting recently installed six Titan SR7 twin-shafted slitter/rewinders at two production sites for FLEXcon, one in Spencer, MA, USA, and the other in Columbus, NE, USA.
Each machine is 71 in. wide (1,800 mm) with a maximum rewind diameter of 32 in. (800 mm), cores of 3 and 6 in. (76 and 152 mm), and production speeds to 2,000 fpm (600 mpm), The SR7 comes supplied standard with a three-motor AC digital drive configuration, said to ensure a highly responsive tension control system for the high-volume production requirements of the PSA industry.
Supplier Information
Titan (Valmet Atlas); valmetconverting.com
Uteco Presses Sold to Korsnas
Korsnas Packaging, The Netherlands, an international leader in the production of sacks and packaging systems, has purchased two Jade flexo presses from Uteco Converting. The presses, which have been delivered to two different plants in Europe, are dedicated to printing on paper and are able to print large repeats on wide web paper. According to Uteco, the press configurations were specified for the different needs of each plant.
Supplier Information
Uteco USA; uteco.com
Upscale Cartons Exude Luxury
Rich and luxurious were the qualities Church & Dwight Co. (C&D) wanted to communicate with the packaging for the Lineance line of beauty products. Upscale in price, the products required an elegant folding carton. Sonoco, Hartsville, SC, provided four folding cartons using almost every special production technique the company's folding carton division has.
Sonoco printed the cartons with four-color process inks, then applied UV and pearlescent coatings for a shiny, black pearl appearance. Next, the script “L” Lineance logo was hot stamped in foil onto a gold circle, giving the impression of embossing.
The text is in an understated white and gold. The cartons are die-cut, and three of the four packages have windows to display the tube or bottle of lotion inside.
The “kit” cartons include printed images of the package's contents, and one carton includes images of the other products in the line.
Russ Duncan, technical graphics manager for Sonoco's folding carton business unit, reports, “This was a fairly sophisticated project to execute. We had the capability to create each of the desired special effects; however, we rarely have a customer that requires so many techniques on one package!”
Elizabeth Houlihan, C&D marketing director, appreciates the effort and the results. “We are extremely pleased with the cartons Sonoco created for the entire Lineance line. The upscale features of the cartons convey to potential consumers the luxurious nature of this new product.”
Detergent Packages Draw Customers
Laundry and dishwashing may not be fun or exciting, but detergent packages certainly can be. That's why Korex Companies, Wixom, MI, USA, turned to the Composipac process for its private label products. The patented process belongs to Graphic Packaging Corp., Golden, CO.
Composipac cartons use gravure graphics reverse-printed on the inside wall of a thin, flexible, transparent film. The film then is vacuum-metallized behind the inks and extrusion-laminated to paperboard.
Korex president Bob Ditmar says there is a trend in private label packaging toward more upscale graphics. “The Composipac design eliminates the scuffing of cartons. This really gives our products a stunning look, and our customers are pleased with the appearance and packaging quality on shelf.”
The packages need good barrier to humidity, Ditmar adds, which theComposipac structure provides.
IBC Has Many Strengths
Reusable and tough, the Multi-Trip Bin ten-ply corrugated Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) by SpaceKraft is said to provide shippers with an uncommonly strong product that can be stored outdoors.
It offers compression strength to 75,000 lb and can be stacked to five high. Delivered with a reusable plastic lid and pallet, this IBC can be used with the metallized film liner conventionally used for aseptic packaging.
Reportedly, product is resistant to infestation, durable for rail freight, and fits most existing filling and emptying systems.
Conferences
Event Spotlights Retort Pouch
MILLTOWN, NJ, USA — The Packaging Group will hold a two-day conference, Retort Pouch — 2004, April 21-22 at the Radisson Hotel, Princeton, NJ. The conference will cover materials, machinery, markets, sourcing, production, and quality and will include special presentations and a panel discussion.
Two pre-conference courses will be held April 20. Course A, “Understanding the Retort Pouch” will cover current retorted flexible packaging pouch applications across several market segments. The foil and nonfoil barrier structure technologies will be presented as well as the end-use criteria that drive the packaging development selection. Course B, “Packaging Foods in the Retort Pouch,” is an intensive discussion of how to introduce foods in the retort pouch and covers all aspects of filling and food processing.
For more information, visit packaginggroup.com.
Association News
UV, EB Initiative Seeks FDA OK
CHEVY CHASE, MD, USA — RadTech International North America is pursuing food packaging clearances for direct food contact using UV and EB materials such as coatings, inks, and adhesives.
Says RadTech president David Diehl, “While thermally cured solvent- and water-borne systems have been used by the food packaging industry for many years, there are virtually no basic components that have been listed as yet by the FDA for the relatively recent strong emergence of UV and EB ink, adhesive, and coating formulations.”
Explains RadTech board member Ron Golden, “Without FDA clearance, when UV and EB are used in food packaging, care must be taken to assure that there is a ‘functional barrier’ between the cured UV or EB formulation and the food. Consequently, although significant performance and productivity cost benefits are possible with UV and EB, end-users have only limited ability to specify UV or EB materials in food packaging applications, such as inserts and game pieces for snack foods, lid materials, exterior of folding cartons, pouches for various types of seasonings and gravy mixes, and the like.” A group called “FDA Food Packaging Alliance” has been formed to push the initiative. For more information visit radtech.org.
Supplier News
Press Impresses Visitors to F&K
FAIRFIELD, NJ, USA — Fischer & Krecke celebrated its first-ever open house at the Biefield, Germany, headquarters. The star of the event was the Flexpress 96 S, said to be the world's largest sleeve-based, gearless, CI flexo press. A preprint liner-board press, the 96 S is expected to have a major impact on all flexo package printing, says the company, due to its technology and web width of 98 in.
During the open house, demonstrations were run with emphasis on the press's fast changeover capabilities and speed: One six-color job was run at 1,640 fpm (500 mpm).
National Starch Makes Changes
BRIDGEWATER, NJ, USA — As part of a redesign of its global specialty starch supply chain, National Starch and Chemical Co. announces a number of initiatives. The company will enhance specialty starch production by modernizing processes at manufacturing sites in Indianapolis, IN, North Kansas City, MO, and Hamburg, Germany; complete a starch modification factory in 2004 in Shanghai, China, to service the emerging Asian market; and close sites in Collingwood, Canada, and Tilbury, UK, by the end of 2004.
Web-Based Tools to Speed Product Development
LUDLOW, MA, USA — Esko-Graphics and Design2Launch, Stamford, CT, jointly will develop next-generation tools to automate and speed the creative and production cycle in packaged goods product development.
The companies say the joint product development effort will result in Web-based tools that will provide “decision-quality” digital information from product and packaging conceptualization through digital photo-realistic prototyping to the final “go” or “no go” production decision of major packaged goods companies.
Tools will include complete 3D models that can be visualized in context settings such as store shelving or POP displays, loaded on pallets, or moved to a virtual digital studio for advertising and catalog shots.
Show News
Drupa: “JDF Coming-Out Party”
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY — Drupa 2004 will, in effect, be “the JDF Drupa,” thanks to a partnership between show organizer Messe Düsseldorf and the Intl. Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press, and Postpress (CIP4), reports Messe Düsseldorf.
JDF (Job Definition Format) provides a common syntax and agreement for how to automate workflows, preserve job data and instructions throughout a print job's lifecycle, and send messages to and between individual devices on the shop floor. Says CIP4 executive director James E. Harvey, “Given development and testing time and natural market forces, it has become an informal consensus among systems, software, and equipment providers that Drupa 2004 is the coming-out party for JDF-enabled products…. Beginning with Drupa, printers will find more and more equipment comes with JDF features or capabilities, even if they are not specifically pursuing a computer-integrated or process automation implementation plan. I've heard it said JDF will spread like a virus, and it is the biggest change to our industry's infrastructure since the application of computers to prepress and desktop operations.”
For more information on Drupa 2004, scheduled for May 6-19 in Düsseldorf, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312/781-5180 or visit drupa.com.
Plastics USA 2004 on Its Way
WASHINGTON, DC, USA — Chicago's McCormick Place will welcome the triennial Plastics USA show Sept. 28-30, 2004. More than 400 exhibitors are expected, as well as 15,000 visitors from the US, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Sponsored by The Society of the Plastics Industry, the show will include a conference program held during show hours and free to all registered show visitors. In addition, the Society of Plastics Engineers will offer — for payment — one- and two-day seminars on training in plastics material, process, and design technologies. For more information on Plastics USA 2004, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit plasticsusa.org.
Acquisitions
Day Runner Now Part of MeadWestvaco
STAMFORD, CT, USA — MeadWestvaco Corp. has executed an agreement to acquire the business of Day Runner, a designer, developer, and distributor of loose-leaf, personal organizers and related products for the retail stationery market. Terms were not disclosed.
Neil A. McLachlan, president of MeadWestvaco's Consumer and Office Products Group, explains, “Day Runner, with its broad line of personal organizers and planning products, perfectly complements our consumer and office products business. It will extend our range of products in important areas and give us another strong brand that is popular with customers and consumers.”
PEI Acquisition Expands Line
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, USA — Pro-Environmental Inc. (PEI), a supplier of VOC/HAP control equipment, reports the acquisition of the intellectual property rights of M & W Industries, Rural Hall, NC. PEI says it now can offer customers a complete line of air pollution-control equipment, including zeolite-based concentrator systems designed specifically for large-airflow, low-concentration applications. The line also will include catalytic recuperative oxidizers, said to be ideal for low to moderate flows with moderate solvent loading.
Kampf Acquires German Co.
MUEHLEN, GERMANY — Kampf GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik is taking over the business establishments of KKA Kleinewefers Anlagen GmbH in Munich and Krefeld, Germany. All product lines will continue to be supported at their present locations in sales, engineering, and service.
Kampf reports the integration of KKA calender technology will provide an excellent foundation in achieving Kampf's goal of strengthening the turnkey business.
Purchases
AMD Adds Laminator Business
GREEN BAY, WI, USA — Associated Machine Design (AMD) has purchased all of the Intellectual Property Assets of the Laminator Business Unit from Paper Converting Machine Co. (PCMC), also of Green Bay. The transaction was effective November 1. AMD now manages all service requests, spare parts, equipment rebuild projects, and supply of new laminator equipment for all current and former customers of PCMC Corrugated.
American Roller Buys Champion
UNION GROVE, WI, USA — American Roller has purchased Champion Roller, Rock Hill, SC, USA. Terms were not disclosed. Chuck Tasch, CEO of American Roller, explains “The purchase of Champion is an opportunity for us to expand our product and service offerings to the customers of both companies, and it provides American Roller with an East Coast manufacturing presence. Champion is known for its exceptional customer service in the markets it serves, including pulp and paper; paper, film, and foil converting; nonwoven textiles; and metal processing industries.
TechniPac Boosts Holdings
LE SUEUR, MN, USA — TechniPac has purchased all equipment and intellectual properties of Riley and Geehr, Evanston, IL. Among the equipment are pouch machines from Totani, Nishibe, and Reinhold. Many pieces of support equipment were included, such as spout / fitment applying machines, rotary die-cutters, and off-line die-cutters. TechniPac specializes in the conversion of printed and unprinted rollstock into finished pouches, re-zippered film, and custom or contract slitting.
Industry Standards
CGATS Revises Standards
RESTON, VA, USA — ANSI, or the American National Standards Institute's accredited Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS) has issued a revision of the 1993 standard, CGATS.5, Graphic technology — Spectral measurement and colorimetric computation for graphic arts images.
The purpose of the revision is to specify a methodology for the measurement of graphic arts images that results in valid and comparable data. The standard applies to both preparation of material for volume production by any printing process as well as to images that will be manufactured in limited quantities.
Also, in a joint letter, the International Color Consortium (ICC) and the Technical Committee 130 (Graphic Technology) of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) urged vendors of ICC profiles and profile-building software to eliminate restrictive license language that prevents customers from exchanging profiles with others or embedding them in job files.
Such restrictive clauses, says ICC, hamper effective all-digital workflows. TC 130 and ICC are asking all vendors to review their policies and take steps to “insure that your profiles can be used in compliance with international standards and to support open color managed data exchange.”
NPES the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies is secretariat to both CGATS and ICC. For information on either subject contact NPES at 703/264-7229 or visit npes.org/standards/workroom.html.
Industry Studies
PakIntell Offers Market Studies
WEST CHESTER, PA, USA — A new market research firm designated PakIntell has been launched by the founders and former owners of Packaging Strategies. Heading the venture is Bill LeMaire.
New reports cover the influence of Wal-Mart in reshaping packaging; online auctions; and packaging R&D.
In a recently published multi-client study, PakIntell compares opportunities for PET, PP, and HDPE in some key and selected end-use markets. The study suggests PET will remain a dominant packaging polymer in most food and beverage markets, but important opportunities are emerging for PP and HDPE.
PET dominates the US plastic container market for beverages, largely because of its commanding share in the carbonated soft drink and water markets. Based on projections to 2007 in the new PakIntell study, PP and HDPE will gain increasing share of market in higher-margin applications such as ready-to-drink (RTD) teas, juice drinks, dairy-based beverages, and enhanced nutritional beverages. Similar market data and projections are made for food and non-food containers. For more information visit pakintell.com.
